Derrick structure



p 1944- w. B. WOODY ETAL DERRI CK S TRUC TURE Filed April 15, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS WBWOODY M G. S C 0 TT ATTORNEY FIG. 4

P 1944- w. B. WOODY ETAL 2,358,755

DERRICK STRUCTURE Filed April 15, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .4 FIG. 3

IN ME N TORS MGSCOTT A 7' TORNEV Sept. 19, 1944. w. B. WOODY ETAL DERRICK STRUCTURE Filed April 15, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 m w w w 2N v, r m w M Y W M 5 Q 53 9W r] w A TTORNEV DERRICK STRUCTURE Wayland B. Woody and Merle G. Scott, Tulsa,

Okla., asslgnors to Franks Manufacturing Corporation, Tulsa, th., a corporation of Oklahoma Application April l5,1942, Serial No. 439,056

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in der rick structures of the conventional portable type having a working or pipe racking platform of the i'oldable type normally employed therewith, and particularly to an improved hinge structure for connecting such platforms with such derrick structures.

In the construction, operation and use of portable type derrick masts, now in wide use in oil fields, it is especially desirable that all the elements of the mast and the various appurtenant appliances be so arranged and connected as to be quickly and easily set up and taken down, and when taken down, to form a compact structure, which may be transported from place to place on trucks operating over standard highways.

' To meet this requirement, it is now the practice to'hingedly connect platforms, such as the conventional pipe racking platforms, to the mast structure so that such platforms may be compactly folded against the mast when not in use. By using a hinged connection, it is not necessary to dis-assemble the platform from the rest of the mast structure, when it is out of use or when the mast is to be lowered for transporting to another location. This arrangement has the important disadvantage, among others, that the elevational position of the platform on the mast is necessarily fixed, and in order to change the relative elevation of the platform it must be removed from the mast and moved to the desired elevation. In ordinary well drilling operations, it is frequently desirable to change the elevation of the pipe racking platform for the purposes of safety and convenience of workmen standing on the platform. The elevation of the platform is generally determined by the length of the pipe sections being run in and out of the well, it being desirable that the upper end of each pipe section extend above the platform to a height which is particularly adapted for the convenience of and safe handling by the workmen. Commercial standards for the lengths of drill pipe and tubing sections permit substantial variations of from four to eight feet in the length of each section, depending upon the particular classification of the pipe. Thus, a string of pipe employed in one case may be made up of sections of substantially greater or lesser length than those employed in another operation with the same mast structure. With the working platform fixed at an elevation suitable for the proper handling of the pipe in one case, the elevation will be inconvenient and unsafe for the handling of the pipe in the other case and it becomes necessary to change the elevation of the working platform accordingly.

A principal object, in accordance with this invention, is to provide an improved form of hinge structure whereby the elevation of a working platform on a mast may be varied while retaining the hinged connection of the platform to the mast at any elevation, and without bodily disconnecting the platform from the mast.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate useful embodiments in accordance with this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mast and platform assembly employing a hinge structure in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the platform and mast assembly of Fig. 1, showing an enlarged view of the details of the hinge structure more generally illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation in enlarged detail of the embodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of one side of the structure of Fig. 3 along line 5-5 and looking toward the front of the structure;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but having a section cut therethrough along line 6-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing the details of the hinge structure of Figs. 1 to 6;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation in enlarged detail of another embodiment of a hinge structure in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 8:

Fig. 10 is a rear elevational view of one side of the structure of Fig. 8 taken generally along line lO-lli thereof;

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation taken along line H-l I of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view, partly in section, glitowirlig the details of the hinge structure of Figs.

Referring to the drawings and to Fig. 1 in particular, the upper portion of derrick mast, indicated generally by the numeral I, has mounted thereon, a platform, indicated generally by the numeral 2, which may be a working platform or a pipe racking platform of any suitable or com ventional type. Platform 2 is hingedly connected to the front of the mast by means of a hinge structure, indicated generally by the numeral 3, which is adapted to be movable with the plattween suitably positioned side girts 9.

4 arms l1.

form vertically along the mast while maintaining the hinged connection of the platform with the mast. A cable 4 leads from the usual drilling rig hoisting mechanism (not shown) over a pulley 5, mounted on the crown of the mast, and is connected by means of a suitably formed bridle 6 to platform 2 and hinge structure 3, for the purpose of changing the elevation of the platform on the mast or of folding the platform against the mast.

Derrick mast l is of the conventional open fron type having a pair of front corner posts I-'I and apair of rear corner posts 8-8 arranged to form the corners of a structure which is generally rectangular in cross-section. Rear corner posts 38 are connected to each other,

and to front corner posts 11 by means of suitable girts 9 and braces l0. I

Platform 2 consists of a convenional U-shaped frame formed of spaced parallel side members ll-ll connected together at the forward ends by an end member l2. The frame encloses a platform area including the usual floored sections |3l3 and open working section I4 to permit free movement therethrough of the usual hoisting mechanism and pipe (not shown) and pipe racking area l5-|5 for the reception of the pipe being handled. The usual guard rails l6-l 6 are mounted on the frame and enclose the platform area in the usual manner for the protection of men working on the platform.

Hinge structure 3, in accordance with the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 'I, inclusive, comprises a. pair of hinge arms, designated generally by the numeral 11, each constructed of a pair of hinge plates l8, spaced apart and-set on edge, which are rigidly attached along their lower edges to the free ends of side members ll of the platform frame. A pair of laterally spaced parallel rails, designated generally by the numerals Ill-l9, are positioned between corner posts 1--| and are vertically supported from the mast l in general alignment with the inner edges of hinge arms IT. The supports for rails ill-l9 consist of a pair of upright members 20-20 spaced rearwardly from rails Ill-I9 and aligned therewith and supported between upper and lower cross-members 2| and 22, respectively, which extend horizontally across the mast be- Each of rails I1 is rigidly connected to a corresponding upright member 20 by means of a plurality of vertically spaced tie plates 23 which extend from the rear faces of the rail to the upright members 20. Each of the rails I3 is formed from a pair of channel iron members 24, the channels of which face toward each other, the edge flanges extending at right angles to the planes of hinge The inner edges of the hinge arms extend into the channels ofmembers 24 between the flanges thereof. The upper portion of the inner edge of each hinge armcarries a sleeve 25 extending transversely thereof and provided with an axial bore 26 adapted to register with a registering pair of journal openings 21-21 provided in the webs of channel members 24. A plurality of such pairs of journal openings 21 are provided at vertically spaced points along each of the channel members, a removable pivot pin 28 extends through the bore 26 and a pair of the journal openings 21 to complete the pivoted connection of each hinge arm to the corresponding rail 19. Sleeve 25 has end portions of reduced diameter adjacent the contiguous sleeves 25.

channel member 24 to form axles 23-23 for a pair of rollers 30-30 which are freely revolvable thereon and are held in place by the webs of the channel members. Rollers 30 are adapted to bear on the inner faces of the flanges of channel members 24. A pair of idler rollers 3l-3l, carried on a shaft 32 which extends through the pair of plates Ill-l8 forming each hinge arm, are ositioned on opposite sides of the hinge arm and are arranged to bear on the outer faces of the front edge flanges of channel members 24. A pin 33 extends transversely through each pair of plates l8-I8 and provides a means for connecting a strand of bridle 6 thereto.

In operation, when it is desired merely to fold the platform inwardly against the mast, the forward strands of bridle 6 are connected to loops 34 positioned at intermediate points along side members ll of the platform and a pulling force is applied to cable 4.' The platform will swing upwardly and inwardly toward the mast about pivot pin 23 as an axis. When it is desired to change the elevation of the platform, the bridle strands are connected to pins 33 and loops 34. .Pivot pins 28 are withdrawn from rails I3 and A pulling force applied to cable 4 will now lift the platform bodily, hinge arms I! moving upwardly between channel members 24. Since rollers 30' are confined within the channels, the platform is not detached from the mast, and rollers 30, together with idler rollers 3|, which bear on opposite sides of the edge flanges, will render the upward movement of the platform relatively frictionless. When sleeve 25 has attained a position registering with the pair of journal openings 2'I-2l at the elevation desired, pivot pin 28 is re-inserted, the bridle released, and the platform is ready for service in the new elevation.

Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, illustrate another embodiment in accordance with this invention. In this embodiment, the channel iron members 24 of rails l9 are placed back-to-back with the channels thereof facing in opposite directions. In other respects these rails are similar to those of the previous embodiments, having vertically spaced journal openings 21, and being supported from the mast in the same manner as previously described.

Each hinge arm I1 is formed by a pair of spaced parallel generally triangularly shaped plates 35-35, the inner edges of which extend over the outer sides of members 24, enclosing the channels therein. The upper ends of plates 3535 carry a pair of rollers 36-36 which are mounted to roll in the channels of members 24. These rollers are mounted on hollow trunnions 31-3| which extend inwardly from the exterior of plates 35-35 into the channels. A locking pin 38 is removably inserted through the bore of trunnions 3'|3'I and registering journal openings 21 in members 24 to lock the hinge arm to the rail. Since rollers 36-36 are mounted on the trunnions, which are fixed in place in the hinge plates, they retain their position when locking pin 38 is withdrawn. A second pair of rollers 39-39 are mounted on a second pair of trunnions 4040, carried by the lower ends of plates 35--35 and are also arranged to roll in the channels and to lock the lower ends of plates 3535 to the channel members. The forward portions of plates 3535 are pivotally connected to the ends of side members H of platform 2 by means of pivot pins 4 l-4i which extend transversely through the plates 35-35 and the ends of side members ll.

Plates 35-35 are provided with the pin 33 for attachment of bridle t.

In the operation of this embodiment, when it is desired to change the elevation of platform 2, bridle t is attached to loops at and pins 38. Locking pins 38 are withdrawn, and the platform moves along rails it on rollers 36 and 3t under the control of cable 6. When rollers 35 reach a position opposite the journal openings 27 at the desired elevation, locking pins as are re-lnserted through trunnions 37, rollers 85 and these openings 2i and the platform is locked in its new position. The hinged connection of platform 8 to hinge plates 35 by means of pivot pins ti permits the platform to be folded toward the mast by pull applied to loops as cable :3. With this embodiment also, it will be seen that the elevation varied without disconnecting the platform from the mast, and without adecting the ability to fold the platform toward the mast at any elevation.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of this invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of this invenion.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a derrick structure having a platform mounted thereon to swing generally between horizontal and vertical positions, an improved hin e structure for connecting said platform to sail derrick structure comprising, a pair of laterally spaced rails vertically supported from the derrick structure, said rails having longitudinal guide channels therein, a plurality of longitudinally spaced Journals positioned along said channels. hinge arms extending from the sides of said platform toward said channels, hollow rollers carried by said hinge arms and reliably disposed in said channels, and removable pivot means extending through said hollow rollers for pivotally connectingl said platform to selected ones of said journa s.

2. In a derrick structure having a platform mounted thereon to swing generally between horizontal and vertical positions,

spaced rails vertically supported from the derrick structure, said rails having spaced edge flanges extending iongitudlnally thereof forming guide through bridle t and of platform 2 may be.

form toward said channels, a pair of vertically spaced rollers carried by each hinge arm and positioned to rollably bear on opposite sides of one of said edge flanges, the inner roller having a hol low hub, and removable pivot means extending through said hollow hub for plvotally connecting said platform to selected ones of said journals.

3. In a derrick. structure having a platform mounted thereon to swing between generally horizontal and vertical positions, anlimproved hinge structure for connecting said platform to said derrick structure comprising, a pair of laterally spaced rails vertically supported from said derrick structure, said rails having longitudinal channels therein, hinge arms extending from the sides of said platform toward said channels and carrying rollers adapted to be confined within the channels to provide a maintained longitudinally movable connection between said platform and derrick structure, and detachable means for pivotally connecting said hinge arms to longitudinally spaced points along said rails.

4. In a derrick structure having a platform mounted thereon to swing between generally horizontal and vertical positions, an improved hinge structure for connecting said platform to said derrick structure comprising, a pair of laterally spaced rails vertically supported from said derrick structure, said rails having longitudinal channels therein, hinge arms extending from the sides of said platform toward said channels and carrying hollow rollers adapted to be confined within the channels to provide a maintained longitudinally movable connection between said platform and derrick structure, and pivot means removably extending through said hollow rollers for pivotally connecting said hinge arms to longitudinally spaced points along said rails.

5. In a derrick structure having a platform mounted thereon to swing between generally horizontal and vertical positions, an improved hinge structure for connecting said platform to said derrick structure comprising a pair of laterally spaced rails vertically supported from said derrick structure, hinged arms adapted to provide a pivotal connection between said platform and said rails and carrying bearing members cooperating with said rails to provide a maintained longitudinally movable connection between the platform and derrick structure, and removable locking members extending through said bearing members and said rails for locking said hinge arms to longitudinally spaced points along said rails.

WAYLAND B. WOODY. MERLE G. SCO'I'I. 

